Chuckle for charity at the Furniture Bank Comedy Night

How important is attendance for the annual Furniture Bank Comedy Night?

Close your eyes and imagine what your home would be like with no furniture for an entire day.

Where would you sit when you got home from work?

Where would you eat dinner?Where would you sleep?

Where would the baby sleep?Now imagine what it would be like for an entire week, even a year. For the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan - which provides beds and essential home furnishings to families in Macomb and Oakland counties - that is an eye-opening reality.

“We serviced 1,300 families last year (totaling more than 8,000 items),” said Robert Boyle, executive director of the Furniture Bank, which has been in operation since 1967.

The 5,000-square-foot facility in Pontiac services families through referrals. At one time, everything was free, but in order to better its clients, the organization changed its policy to include a modest donation of $100. Often paid by the referral agency, such as the Department of Human Services or Macomb Oakland Regional Center, the fee includes all of the essential items, other than appliances, required by a client, including beds, dressers and kitchen and dining room sets. Lamps, nightstands, bedding, cribs, household accessories and other items that go into to decorating a home are also stocked by the Furniture Bank.

Boyle said appliances were always a problem. By the time they were donated, they didn’t work or required costly repairs. By restructuring their operating style, Boyle said they were able to serve more people.

“Now all of our clients are able to get what they need in two weeks (rather than the old way of waiting for months until something comes in),” Boyle said. “Now instead of filling 40 percent of our requests we’re filling 90 percent.”

All of the gently used items are donated. And while the public is generous with its donations of furniture and household items, the nonprofit organization relies on fundraisers like the annual Furniture Bank Comedy Night starting at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak.

Boyle said proceeds from the benefit help keep the lights on and the phones working - and cover the cost of repairs to equipment and the facility where the household furnishings are stored. Just this week the fuel pump on one of the trucks had to be replaced and that cost the charity $2,000.

“It’s a fun way to bring folks together to raise money for our mission,” Boyle said of the Comedy Night. “Mark does a fantastic job and the talent is always great. This year we’re lucky enough to have a national act, Jim David.”

David is a comedian and writer whose special, “Comedy Central Presents Jim David,” airs frequently on that cable channel. He’s also served as guest comedy consultant on Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and BBC America’s “The World Stands Up.”

“He’s somebody who’s making a living doing this (comedy stuff) and that’s not easy,” Boyle said. So you know he’s pretty funny and his jokes are clean. “Naturally, because of the nature of what we do, the entertainment is family-oriented.”

Comedy Night Tickets are $40 per person and include a reception with hors d’oeuvres and a live auction followed by David’s show. The evening’s opening act will be Bill Boronky.

“It’s a good laugh for a good cause,” Boyle said.

Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle is located at 310 South Troy St., Royal Oak. To purchase tickets, visit www.furniture-bank.org or by call 248-332-1300, Ext. 200.

Gina Joseph is a reporter and columnist for The Macomb Daily. Send comments to gina.joseph@macombdaily.com, follow her on twitter @ginaljoseph and visit her beat blog at macomblife.blogspot.com.

Donations?The Furniture Bank not only accepts gently used furniture but will haul it away for you. For information on donations and referrals, visit www.furniture-bank.org.